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Every bug is a lovebug when you love bugs!

me and who

Rare images of a leafcutter bee sharing its nest with a wolfspider:

These photographs were taken in Queensland, Australia, by an amateur photographer named Laurence Sanders.

The leafcutter bee (Megachile macularis) can be seen fetching freshly-cut leaves, which she uses to line the inner walls of her nest. The wolfspider moves aside, allowing the bee to enter the nest, and then simply watches as the leaf is positioned along the inner wall.

After inspecting the nest together, they return to their resting positions -- sitting side-by-side in the entryway to the nest.

The bee seems completely at ease in the presence of the wolfspider, which is normally a voracious predator, and the spider seems equally unfazed by the fact that it shares its burrow with an enormous bee.

This arrangement is completely unheard of, and the images are a fascinating sight to behold.

Sources & More Info:

Brisbane Times: The Odd Couple: keen eye spies bee and spider bedfellows in 'world-first'

iNaturalist: Megachile macularis

People who like mantises but aren't that into entomology are always "orchid mantises" this and "orchid mantises" that. Overrated. Can we talk about Toxodera integrifolia for a minute:

(Image links because as much as it pains me I've never seen one of these beauties irl: 1 2 3)

Like how are these things real. Girl what is that thorax shape. Why are you wearing eyeliner. And the colors? Absolutely fire. This is a 10/10 insect if you ask me.

My Sluguenda animation set is growing <3 :D

today on the list of things that are gonna keep me up at night (courtesy of depthsofwikipedia ig)

I don't think this is actually her but this is a photo of a specimen from the same species that comes up when you search for her.

A reminder that humans can and do form years - DECADES - long relationships with creatures much smaller and much different than us.

Rest easy, Number 16. You were taken from us too soon.

things to say to bugs when science finally unlocks the secrets of human-bug communication:

im not hurting you i am taking you to a safe place

do you eat weird crumbs cause i found some im willing to share

you can bite me if you want but id rather be no-bite friends

i like your big colorful eyes, very stylish

please dont crawl into my sleeves

(sings a duet with a cricket)

lil zappy kissu

🦋Ko-fi🦋

Commission me!

Gonna try doing mini comics again 👌

References:

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